Electric motor housing
AssigneeA. O. Smith Corporation
InventorNorman Richard Long
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric motor that can be set up for operation in one of two modes including a first mode that utilizes a power cord to removably couple the electric motor to a power source, and a second mode that utilizes a line lead to permanently couple the electric motor to a power source. The electric motor includes a housing have an aperture, and a cover plate. The cover plate is attachable to the housing in a first orientation corresponding to the first mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and leaves an opening for the power cord, and a second orientation corresponding to the second mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and does not leave an opening.
Claims19
An electric motor that can be set up for operation in one of two modes including a first mode that utilizes a first electrical conduit to couple the electric motor to a power source, and a second mode that utilizes a second electrical conduit to couple the electric motor to a power source, the electric motor comprising:
- a housing that defines an aperture;
- a stator fixed relative to the housing;
- a shaft rotatable relative to the housing;
- a rotor connected to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator;
- electrical components inside the housing that are accessible through the aperture, the electrical components connected to the first electrical conduit in the first mode and connected to the second electrical conduit in the second mode;
- and
- a cover plate that is attachable to the housing in
- a first orientation corresponding the first mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and leaves an opening in the aperture for the first electrical conduit to pass through, and
- a second orientation corresponding to the second mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the entire aperture without leaving an opening in the aperture for an electrical conduit to pass through.
A method of assembling an electric motor including a housing having an aperture that provides access to electrical components inside the housing, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable relative to the housing, and a rotor supported by the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator, the method comprising:
- providing a cover plate;
- and
- setting the motor up in one of two modes,
- wherein, if the motor is set up in the first mode,
- a first electrical conduit is connected to the electrical components, and
- the cover plate is attached to the housing in a first orientation so that the cover plate substantially covers the aperture but leaves an opening in the aperture through which the first electrical conduit passes,
- and wherein, if the motor is set up in the second mode,
- a second electrical conduit is connected to the electrical components, and
- the cover plate is attached to the housing in a second orientation so that the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and does not leave an opening in the aperture for an electrical conduit to pass through.
An electric motor that can be set up for operation in one of two modes including a first mode that utilizes a power cord to removably couple the electric motor to a power source, and a second mode that utilizes a line lead to permanently couple the electric motor to a power source, the electric motor comprising:
- a housing that defines an aperture, the aperture having a main portion and a recess portion adjacent to the main portion;
- a stator fixed relative to the housing;
- a shaft rotatable relative to the housing;
- a rotor connected to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator;
- electrical components inside the housing that are accessible through the aperture, the electrical components connected to the power cord in the first mode and connected to the line lead in the second mode;
- and
- a cover plate that is attachable to the housing in
- a first orientation corresponding to the first mode in which the cover plate covers the main portion of the aperture and the cover plate and the recess portion of the aperture at least partially define an opening in the aperture through which the power cord passes, and
- a second orientation corresponding to the second mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the main portion and the recess portion and does not define an opening in the aperture through which the power cord or the line lead passes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.